Pediatric Care Africa visits new ASM Clinic for the first time

Pediatric Care Africa visits new ASM Clinic for the first time

Pediatric Care Africa, a not-for-profit organisation that provides lifesaving medical assistance to less fortunate children, held a medical and dental outreach at the new ASM Clinic in Msholozi, an informal township on the outskirts of White River earlier this month.

“It was so hot that our digital ear and forehead thermometers displayed error codes and we had to revert to more traditional thermometers to take patients’ temperatures with,” says Dr André Hattingh, founder and CEO of Pediatric Care Africa.  

Despite the heat, a group of doctors, dentists, nursing sisters, physiotherapists, pharmacists and non-medical volunteers joined for the first medical outreach at the new ASM Clinic.

“It was a great success and a record 50 teeth were extracted during the outreach, and 38 medical patients were seen by our doctors,” Dr Hattingh says.

A number of children with a low body mass index (BMI) and malnutrition were identified, and they all received Genesis high-protein food supplements, which is a top source of vitamins and minerals, and will receive Genesis every month for six months after which they will be re-evaluated.

The only reason our medical outreaches are possible is the volunteers that accompany us and the generous and continuous donations we receive from Crossing Centre Nelspruit in the form of precooked fortified porridge and Genesis/OUTsurance who supply us with food supplements.

Dr André Hattingh.

Prescribed over-the-counter medication was dispensed from the Pediatric Care Africa mobile pharmacy, and all scheduled and prescribed medication was bought and given to the ASM Clinic dispensing nursing sister to hand out to the patients.

Every patient also received five kilograms of precooked porridge, sanitary pads for female patients, a freshly made hotdog, cold drinks, a packet of chips and a delicious fresh pear.

“The only reason our medical outreaches are possible is the volunteers that accompany us and the generous and continuous donations we receive from Crossing Centre Nelspruit in the form of precooked fortified porridge and Genesis/OUTsurance who supply us with food supplements,” Dr Hattingh says.